Mitochondrial Complex 1is Important for Plant Tolerance to Fungal Biotic Stress

Environmental constraints, such as biotic stress, are detrimental for plant productivity, survival and reproduction. Although plants have evolved metabolic mechanisms to tolerate environmental challenges, our knowledge on the importance of mitochondrial metabolism in biotic stress responses is still fragmentary. This study examined the effects of mutations in mitochondrial complex I (CI) and determined major stress-responsive metabolites associated with decreased tolerance to fungal infection. Using the pathosystem Arabidopsis thaliana-Plectosphaerella cucumerina, we demonstrated that the loss of CI function dramatically increased susceptibility to the necrotrophic pathogen. During infection, metabolomics analysis revealed that CI dysfunction caused a profound reorchestration of plant metabolism, including defence pathways. This metabolomics study demonstrates a clear role for mitochondrial CI function in tolerance to environmental biotic stress.

Keywords: Environmental stress, mitochondria, Arabidopsis thaliana, metabolomics, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, plant immunity.